[JURIST] The Constitutional Court of Indonesia [official website] rejected an appeal by five convicted drug smugglers against the death penalty Tuesday, ruling that capital punishment did not violate the Indonesian constitution [text]. Lawyers representing the five had argued that the death penalty violated the defendant's constitutional right to life.

The drug smugglers, including three Australians and two Indonesian nationals, were all sentenced to death for attempting to smuggle heroin from Bali to Australia in April 2005. The Constitutional Court said the Australians, as foreigners, lacked standing to challenge Indonesia laws. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has indicated that the Australian government will seek clemency on behalf of the Australians. Reuters has more.

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